The new series will be made by Kudos, whose credits include Broadchurch – the murder mystery starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman – Spooks, Life on Mars and Sky Atlantic's up-coming remake of The Bridge, The Tunnel.

Announcing one of her first new flagship dramas, BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore said: "River is full of intriguing twists and turns and I was truly gripped when the script came in.

"Abi's one of Britain's most distinctive and original storytellers and her ability to push the boundaries of the genre in surprising ways makes River her perfect debut on BBC1."

The six-part series follows the life of John River, a "brilliant police officer whose genius and fault-line is the fragility of his mind", according to the BBC's description of the new show.

He is a "man haunted by the murder victims whose cases he must lay to rest. A man who must walk a professional tightrope between a pathology so extreme he risks permanent dismissal, and a healthy state of mind that would cure him of his gift".

The BBC's controller, drama commissioning Ben Stephenson said: "It was amazing to see Abi winning the Emmy in LA on Sunday night – it shows what a world-class talent she is.

"I am delighted that she will now be turning her attention to her first series for BBC1. It's a corker, with all Abi's unique qualities – smart, moving, warm and full of huge surprises."

Kudos chief executive Jane Featherstone said Morgan had created a "fascinating and gifted lead character, whose story will move and surprise the audience".

River will begin filming in London next year and air on BBC1 in 2015.

• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email media@theguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".

• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook.